A local court on Tuesday in Jodhpur has sent arrested Congress MLA Malkhan Singh and 10 others, accused in the murder of nurse Bhanwari Devi, to judicial custody till February 28. The CBI produced all of them, including Bhanwari’s husband Amarchand, before the court. The agency, meanwhile, received a jolt when key accused Sahiram Bishnoi backtracked from his statement recorded before the court.
Former deputy zila pramukh Sahiram Bishnoi has been considered a vital link between the conspirators and those who disposed of the body.
To ensure he does not turn hostile, the CBI recorded his statement before the magistrate last month, hoping to turn him approver, but it did not work.
His lawyer moved an application before the court on Tuesday and said he given his statement under the CBI’s pressure. The lawyer contended that his statement should not be read during the trial. Sahiram Bishnoi’s lawyer said he was pressured by the agency to give a statement. This is not the first time when the accused refused to give a statement. Earlier, Bishnaram’s gang member Ashok Bishnoi and accused Omprakash declined to record statements.
Sahiram Bishnoi surrendered last year on December 23 before the court after the agency raided several places.